Includes chord shapes for new songwriting ideas

Open D

The Open D tuning (named as such because, when strummed ‘open’, without fingering any notes with the left hand, the resulting chord corresponds to a D major chord) is a widely used tuning in folk and blues styles.

Its open nature makes it a particular favourite with slide guitar players, and the tuning also pushes the guitar’s range closer to that of a piano, for greater expressiveness. Experiment with harmonics in this tuning, barring your finger across the fifth, seventh and 12th fret for some heavenly chordal strums.